nysalogs | mercenary jobs #2

Entry tags:

mercenary jobs #2 — open to all

Who: Anyone interested in taking some mercenary jobs via Aranea Highwind's offerings. She will be texting people she's made contact with in her initial mercenary network post. However, newcomers can find jobs posted in Wyver.
What: Mercenary posting!
When: N/A
Where: N/A
Warning(s): Nothing particular!

Thank you for stopping by to check out this month's job postings for Highwind Hires — a freelance mercenary group!

Aranea Highwind will ICly be contacting characters and offering them jobs based off the assumption she will receive 30% of the cut. Due to the change in settings, Aranea has waved her fee and is allowing people to keep the full cut of the payment to help them get on their feet.

JOB #1 — DRAGON RESCUE

With the infection in Wyver, a local dragon-nursery is in need of workers to help tend for sick dragons. They will need baths, feedings, and even surgery in some cases. Will you answer the call and provide the support Wyver needs in this trying time?

OUTCOMES:
- The nursery will pay you 100 silver for a day's work.

JOB #2 — REDEMPTION FOR FAMILY

An elderly woman named Vetmir has somehow got in contact with Highwind Hire, hoping to find her son's killer. Her son was murdered weeks ago by a former lover. The woman is hiding in The Old City, Alora, is often seen among the trading market near the evening making a living a drug trader.

OUTCOMES:
- Vetmir promises 140 silver with delivery of a locket her son gave Alora.
- Sparing Alora's life will earn you her side of the story, where she had to defend herself after a drunken encounter with Vetmir's son. This earns you 40 silver in appreciation and the locket, which nets you Vetmir's 140 silver if delivered back for a total of 180 silver.

JOB #3 — BONES FOR A CURE

Criny, a medicine woman is looking for a large supply of Puox bones from their camouflaged exterior. This crucial parts are needed to craft some potions to help relieve aches for the sick. While definitely not the cure, Puox is needing someone to travel to Murkwell Hollow and someone to help assist in potion making.

OUTCOMES:
- Anyone who brings her 6 bonespurs from Puox will receive 170 silver.
- People who help in potion making will receive 30 silver per potion with a maximum of 6 potions a day.

JOB #4 — SEARCH & RESCUE

Jillam, a street vendor, has not seen their fruit supplier in a few days. Worried they were lost in The Undergrowth, they are enlisting a search and rescue. Traveling to the Undergrowth will prove difficult — gather a small party for back up.

The vendor cart is abandoned with a broken axis, the fruit still good but the driver missing. Exploring further will allow the players to rescue Qun from a man-eating plant.

OUTCOMES:
- Anyone who participates in the search and rescue will receive 200 silver.
- Players can attempt repair the carriage and return the fruit back for cut of the food for free.
- Players who explore for the vendor will be able to fight a large man-eating plant similar to a venus flytrap with sentient vines. If Qun is rescued, you will receive an additional 100 silver.

Have fun! If you have any questions, feel free to PM me! These are all loosely based on your choices, so feel free to go wild with them. The outcomes only are indication of what the jobs would offer. If you're interested in having your character offer a job in the future, please let me know!

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Despite his former position, Venom rarely ever dealt directly with the black market. And even then it was mostly for weapons. His predecessors were much more involved than he ever was.]

That is true, and this area looks like it can mess someone up easily.

[The plant life is thick and abundant, making it tough to navigate in spots. Venom's been casually breaking off leaves and stems to keep track of their path along with the mental notes.]

[Where he came from, the black market was less an oddity and more of a necessity. It leaves him with a very skewed sense of what's valuable and what isn't.]

Thick woods like this...I'm not familiar with them, but they always hide something dangerous, right?

[Yusei looks around warily as he says that, as if he's expecting a lion or some other strange beast to suddenly leap out at them.]

In my experience, yes.

[Like those mindfuck monsters that tried to lure Bucky away. But he chose this job to help someone in need. He won't let the foliage get the best of him or his new ally.

Soon he spots something in the vicinity. It appears to be a fruit cart that has seen better days. The produce has mostly been devoured by the local wildlife, leaving but a couple of leftover scraps.]

I believe we've found our first clue...

[Don't remind him of the mindfuck monsters. He's still embarrassed that they reduced him to a screaming fit.

Nevermind that, though. Yusei's eyes widen at the sight of the ravaged cart.]

This... [The cart itself doesn't seem that damaged, but the goods...] You don't think the wildlife attacked him for the food, do you? You'd think he'd have prepared for that sort of thing...

[Venom's cautiously approaching the cart to get a better look, in case anyone or anything is still nearby.]

No. This looks more like the work of scavengers. Meaning he's been missing for a while.

[He examines the scraps, and it appears some pieces might still be viable to eat or sell. They have a couple of tiny blemishes, and the rest can be easily washed off.]

He probably left the cart and intended to return within a short period of time. Then whatever got to him struck... [Pause] I'm going to scour the vicinity for more clues. Can you stay here and see if the cart can be repaired?

[He realizes that might come off as his cold leader self, and adds:]

I promise I won't go too far out.

[Yusei pauses, then nods, starting to pace around the cart.]

I think I can manage something. It's what I came here for, isn't it?

[He looks determined, at least.] If it's scavengers that raided this cart, then they won't try and come again if someone's here, I think. Only the desperate would come back to an already raided spot.

Right. But if you see or hear anything strange, call for me. I'll return immediately.

[With that, Venom is off to investigate the vicinity around the cart. This whole saving lives thing is different compared to home, but at least he can put his tracking skills to use. Within minutes, he finds a couple more scraps and a piece of torn cloth hanging on a thorny bush.
It's something, but not much.]

Hmmm...

Will do.

[Yusei nods sharply, before turning to the cart. A more thorough look shows that while the cart itself looks banged up and ravaged in the aftermath of whatever scavengers looted the cart, the only major thing keeping it from moving is a broken axis, which he finds he can use the metal pole he was wielding as a sufficient replacement that can last until more appropriate repairs can be made. It's a bit thin, but sturdy enough.]

[Venom makes sure he can hear Yusei working on the cart as he explores the surrounding area. But then a weird noise catches his attention. Something like dragging and scratching, followed by grunts. The former assassin raises his cue and follows the faint sounds.

He reaches a small clearing before he spots someone tangled in vines.]

Damn-!

Yusei! Can you hear me?! I think I found our missing person!

[He tries to tear off the vines but they're very stuck, and soon he sees the plant the vines are attached to...]

[Yusei pushes himself out from underneath the cart with a grunt, just in time to hear Venom calling out.]

What-?! Hold up, I'm coming!

[He can't exactly take his pole back, but he can take one half of the cart's original broken axis in return, it's sturdy enough to suffice. It also does the same job of pushing away plantlife that threatens to tangle around his feet, and it doesn't take long for Yusei to make his way into the same clearing.]

Wh...what is that...?

[He's suddenly reminded of his first meeting with Aki. The dread feels about the same, after all, there's nothing quite like running into a murderous plant monster.]

[Venom's grip grows tighter around his cue as he starts to channel his energy into a growing ball near the cue's tip.]

Stand back-! Stinger Aim!

[He launches the charged ball into what appears to be a Venus fly trap-like plant, hoping it's enough to stun. The moment it connects he's working on loosening the vines.]

I don't know... I just want to get us all out of here alive.

[The plant looks like it was at least taken aback by being lobbed in the...whatever counts as a face...by a cue ball. He'd hope it was, anyway...it seriously got nailed by a cue ball. Those things hurt. A...magic cue ball should probably hurt more, right?]

Heh...I'd hope you'd want that, at least, or there would have been no point in taking this mission!

[Yusei takes the opening to slip the piece of axis into a spot opened up by Venom loosening the vines. Using that piece of lumber as leverage, he can get more of the vines to pull open, which he does so with gusto. One vine pops free with a sickening noise, flailing angrily at the sudden movement as he reclaims the piece of lumber and holds it in front of him defensively.]

[It's definitely a full departure from ending lives. Once the carnivorous plant is stunned, Venom helps Yusei with loosening the vines. The man falls to the ground in a slump as the former assassin readies his cue again.]

Get him somewhere safe. I'll take care of the plant for good.

[If Yusei thought the cue ball was cool, wait until Venom makes a quick gesture with his hand. Out of nowhere, a human-sized purple-black ball bearing Venom's hair eye appears, and he sends it spinning towards the main part of the giant plant.]

Prepare yourself... Dark Angel!

[Yusei grabs the man and puts one of his arms over his shoulders, grunting as he gets the vendor to his feet.]

I got him!

[He hisses as he drags the man backwards, still unsteadily brandishing the broken axis with his other hand. Such an action proves unnecessary, however, with Venom's attack appearing.]

That's...?

[Venom hasn't really had much of a chance to cut loose a bit, to use the magic that he painstakingly created over years of practice. And he's thankful the plant folds quickly after the hit, or else he would have used something even stronger. Anything to help Yusei and the vendor escape unharmed.

A few lingering vines try to trip him up as he makes his own escape, but they're dealt with easily thanks to a few cue swipes and stabs. Soon he's caught up with his party, a bit winded from using so much energy.]

Are both of you all right?

[Yusei's breathing a little heavily by the time Venom gets to him, but he seems used to the motion of mostly supporting the very winded vendor on his back.]

Thanks to you, yes. [He nods to the man he's carrying.] He only seems stunned, but who knows how badly he was being squeezed...there might be other injuries. We can check when we get back to his cart.

That's good to hear.

[They weren't too late after all. The guy's still alive and they retrieved his cart.]

All right. From there we'll figure out how to get all of us out of this terrible place.

[And far away from man-eating plants.]

[Yusei jerks his head at the cart, shrugging.]

I've got the thing back upright, at least, so we might be able to use that. The repairs can last until it reaches town and he can get some proper work done on it.

Let's give it a try, then.

[As they make their way back to the cart, Venom turns to his ally.]

Thank you for coming with me. I could not have done any of this alone.

[Yusei nods.]

I'm glad you would have me. I can fight, but... [He shrugs, helplessly.] Against monsters and wildlife like that, my chances are slim. I didn't think you'd accept my offer to come.

I take it you're more used to human opponents?

[Venom knows that feeling. Had it not been for previous experiences fighting creatures when he first arrived, he would've had a harder time with the plant monster.]

You were a great help. I am terrible with any kind of repair work.

Ah. Street fighting, specifically.

[He somehow looks faintly embarrassed to admit that, despite barely changing his expression.]

I doubt that plant monster would have cared if I tried to sneak around it or the like.

[Did it even have eyes to fling dust into? Ha.]

We both brought our own ability to this mission, it seems.

Ah. I knew a few who specialized such fights.

[He can't really judge as he's had his own scraps when he was younger.]

We do make a good team. If another mission like this comes up, I'll have to contact you. But I'll make sure there aren't any murderous plants involved.

[Is he... joking? Hard to tell with that deadpan tone.]

Phffn...

[That might or might not be chuckle. Who knows. Either way, he grunts and lifts the man into the cart before answering.]

I'll be glad to lend technical support when you need it.

[And once more Venom manages to forge a possible new friendship. He offers a rare, almost natural smile as he helps secure the man.]

Shall we, then?

[Time to get the hell out of this place and hope they won't return for a while.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

mercenary jobs #2 — open to all

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